GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the fatal stabbing of a man after he complained about noise coming from a party at an apartment in north Dublin have appealed for two men who were with the killer at the time to contact them.
The knife used by the killer was still buried in the dead man’s chest when the emergency services arrived at the scene.
Garda sources said the victim, Warren O’Connor (24), had “absolutely no chance” of surviving the deep chest wound he suffered in the attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Mr O’Connor was killed after he went with three friends to complain about the noise levels coming from an apartment at the Grattan Wood development, Hole In The Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
“We know there were at least two men with the killer. We know they weren’t responsible and we want them, and indeed the attacker, to come forward and talk to us,” said a senior Garda source.
Gardaí believe Mr O’Connor and a number of friends went to an apartment owned by one of their group at about midnight on Friday. A party was under way at a neighbouring apartment and Mr O’Connor and his friends called to ask the occupants to lower the music and stop shouting.
Mr O’Connor’s group and a number of men at the party became involved in an altercation in the hallway. The confrontation then spilled out into the car park of the apartment block.
Mr O’Connor and a female friend got into a car owned by one of their group. The woman’s young baby was in the vehicle with them. They drove out of the apartment complex but were pursued by another vehicle carrying three men who had been at the party.
The car Mr O’Connor was in was hit from behind by the other car just outside the apartments. The cars came to a halt and Mr O’Connor and three men in the pursuing car stepped out on to the road. One man produced a knife and stabbed Mr O’Connor in the chest.
The killer and the two men he was with then fled on foot. Mr O’Connor’s female friend rang the emergency services but the 24-year-old former member of the Defence Forces died at the scene.
The murder scene and the communal area in the apartment block where the confrontation started underwent a forensic examination yesterday by the Garda Technical Bureau. The two vehicles that collided, a black Honda Civic and silver Ford Focus, were taken for forensic examination.
The victim, who lived in Coolock, was not linked to any criminal activity. He was described as a popular man who played soccer for Coolock Town.
The investigating team have established the identity of the driver and passengers in the car that hit Mr O’Connor’s car.
Detectives have spoken to the deceased’s friend who witnessed the attack and to some of those in the apartment of the party.
Anybody with information is asked to contact gardaí in Coolock at 01-6664200.
